Page 6 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, August 2, 2019 SABATINO INSURANCE AGENCY Call for a Quote 617-387-7466 Or email Rocco@sabatino-ins.com We cover: * Auto * Home * Boat * Renter * Condo * Life * Multi-Policy Discounts * Commercial 10% Discounts * Registry Service Also Available I Add a little color to the team By The Old Sachem, Bill Stewart http://www.sabatino-ins.com SABATINO 564 Broadway Everett, MA 02149 617-387-7466 Hours of Operation are: Mondays - Fridays 9am to 5pm Saturdays by appointment only f you’re not retirement age you probably never heard of Elijah Jerry “Pumpsie” Green. Elijah was a different kind of record-breaker; he was the first black player to play for the Red Sox. The Sox were the last team to have a black player on their roster at the time. Pumpsie Green was born in Boley, Oklahoma, on October 27, 1933, which made him a scant older than me. He died in San Leandro, California, on July 17, 2019. Green was the eldest of five AUTOTECH 1989 SINCE Is your vehicle ready for the Summer Season?!! AC SPECIAL Recharge your vehicle's AC for the warm weather! Includes up to 1 IL. of Refrigerant* (*Most Vehicles) Only $59.95 DRIVE IT - PUSH IT - TOW IT! CASH FOR YOUR CAR, TRUCK OR SUV! 2012 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA SE Auto., Leather, Loaded, Excellent Condition, Clean Title, Warranty, ONLY 72K Miles! Trades Welcomed READY TO GO! 781-321-8841 2006 DODGE CHARGER Loaded with Extras, 3.5 V6 HO Motor, Premium Sound System, Dual Exhaust, Runs & Drives Great! 139K Miles, Warranty. PRICED RIGHT! $6,995 $3,995 Easy Financing Available! 1236 Eastern Ave • Malden EddiesAutotech.com We Pay Cash For Your Vehicle! www.reverealuminumwindow.com children and the family was very athletic. One of his brothers, Cornell, played safety for the Dallas Cowboys. Another brother, Credell Green, played football at the University of Washington and was drafted by the Green Bay Packers. Pumpsie grew up in Richmond, California, and was a three-sport athlete at El Cerrito High School. He always maintained that he was a better basketball player but locked into baseball when he was offered a baseball scholarship to Fresno State University. But when his high school baseball coach, Gene Corr, became the coach at Contra Costa College, Pumpsie was promised he could play shortstop; Pumpsie decided to follow. He grew up as a fan of the Oakland Oaks of the Pacific Coast League baseball team. As a senior Pumpsie was offered a contract by Oakland and he signed quickly. Green was delegated to the Wenatchee Chiefs, an Oakland affiliate, and batted .297 in 1954, his second season with the Chiefs. He was promoted to the next minor league level in 1955, playing for the Stockton Ports, and his contract was purchased by the Red Sox although he was allowed to complete the season with Stockton. For the 1956 season, Pumpsie was sent to the Albany Senators, a Sox minor league team. In 1957 he was elevated to the Oklahoma City Indians, and then the San Francisco Seals, then in 1958 he was moved again to the Minneapolis Millers. Green was selected to attend the 1959 Red Sox spring training, and though he played well he returned to the Millers. During 98 games with the Millers he batted .320 and was brought up to Boston. Green made his debut with the Sox on July 21, 1959, against the White Sox in Chicago and pinch hit for Vic Wertz then played shortstop for the eighth and ninth innings, becoming the first black player on the Red Sox field. He started at second base the next day and went 0 for 3. His first hit came on July 28 in Cleveland. The Sox starting pitcher that day was the great Earl Wilson, who became the second person of color for the team. He appeared in 50 games for the Sox that season, mostly as a second-baseman, and he batted .233. He played 133 games in the 1961 season, 69 as a second-baseman and 41 at shortstop, batBill Stewart The Old Sachem ting .242. That season was his career best: batting 6 home runs, 27 RBIs, 12 doubles and 4 stolen bases. The 1962 season will always remain in Red Sox lore because he and pitcher Gene Conley left the team bus in the Bronx during a traffic jam, and they decided to leave the team and depart for Israel with no passports or luggage. The Sox had suffered a humiliating series, and the two decided that the shame was too great and went to Idlewild International Airport (now JFK) but were not allowed to board so they returned to Boston. In the off season Green was traded to the New York Mets – including Tracy Stallard and Al Moran – for Felix Mantilla. He was sent down to the Buffalo Bisons, where he played for most of the season, but was called up to the Mets where he played 17 games where he batted .278. During his big league career in the American League, he played 4 seasons and 344 games, had 181 hits and scored 111 runs, 30 doubles, 10 triples and 12 home runs. He knocked in 69 runs, had 12 stolen bases and walked 126 times while striking out 119 times. In his 5 big league seasons he had THE OLD SACHEM | SEE PAGE 9
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